Fashion, Politics & Controversy

Everyone has a different aspect on fashion. Whether it is to look presentable, elegant, sexy, symbolic, or just casual, people are usually trying to represent something in their outfit. Fashion in politics is important because it conveys who you are to the people. What a political candidate wears can say a lot about the person, and can even effect people make presumptions about the person’s decision making abilities.

Condolezza Rice, 66th United States Secretary, has stirred up controversy before because of her outfits. Women in politics are expected to dress presentable and conservative to avoid any unwanted attention. The idea is for women to be seen for their political career and not for what they wear. In the above picture of the former secretary, she was harshly critized for what she was wearing. Although she wasn't showing much skin, her knee-high boots were an unacceptable for her political position. The shape and height of the boots are seen as "sexy" and should not have been worn by a United States Secretary. This raised many issues sexual power. While preparing this outfit, Condolezza Rice probably just thought it was cute and appropriate for the event. Critics and spectators gave the situation unwanted attention by naming the outfit inappropriate and sexual.
Condolezza Rice is aware that appearaces to matter. "Fashion-lovers were acused of swallowing male definitions of femininity as whole"(Beckingham, 9). May people can argue that Rice was simply trying to look good while others say she was making a statement.

Source:

Givhan, Robin. "Condoleezza Rice's Commanding Clothes." The Pulitzer Prizes. The Washington Post, 2005. Web. 20 Mar 2011. http://www.pulitzer.org/archives/6987.

Beckingham, Carolyn. Is Fashion a Woman's Right? (HB @ PB Price). 2005. Print.